Directing The Importance of Being Earnest has been my very first adventure in the director’s chair, and what a gloriously joyful (and only mildly chaotic) adventure it has been. This experience was made not just successful, but genuinely delightful, because of the extraordinary people who shared it with me. To our cast: thank you for your brilliance, your bravery, and your impeccable comedic timing. You trusted a first-time director, leaned fully into the absurdity and elegance of Wilde, and filled every rehearsal with laughter, creativity, and heart. Watching you bring these characters to life has been an absolute gift. To our crew and creative team: you are the quiet geniuses (and sometimes not so quiet miracle-workers) behind the curtain. Your talent, problem-solving, and tireless dedication made this world possible, and I am endlessly grateful for everything you do—especially the things the audience never even realizes had to be done. To our community: thank you for cheering us on, showing up, and reminding us why theatre matters. Your support made this first-time directing experience feel not scary, but celebrated. And a very special thank you to my husband, Logan—the undisputed master of set construction. Thank you for turning ideas into wood, screws, and something that actually stands upright. Your skill, patience, and unwavering support quite literally built the foundation of this production, and I could not have done this without you. Thank you all for believing in me, for laughing with me, and for making this first step as a director one I will cherish forever. With gratitude (and a very full heart), Jess Hanson Director, The Importance of Being Earnest